A Passion For Rescuing Teacups

 

I have a passion for teacups and all things tea. On a recent trip to Nanaimo BC, on Vancouver Island

I came across this amazing tea cup. It was buried at the back of a shelf in their Value Village, priced at

$4.99 and its message could not have been clearer. I have been in a state of flux for many years now

and longing to put down roots with my new partner and our family. He and I have been making little trips

to the island from our home on the west coast. I have been longing to find a place we can live and put

down roots. I don't currently feel that is possible where I am now. I have a 3-5 year plan at the moment

to do just that. My boys are older now and the youngest has about 3 years left of high school. Sharing

custody with their father at the moment and not wanting to uproot and change them on a dime, I am just

now since May putting things in place, putting it out into the universe and with a little luck and hard work

I just might be able to make it work. Here is a bit about how I came to find and love my teacups and how

you just might consider picking up a few treasures of your own.

  I have been a devoted fan of my Old Country Roses Royal Albert China tea set since I was 13 and though I

have collected tea cups to use for years now, I have only two yellow cup and saucers and two gold cup and

saucer sets in my possession, but I noticed when I use them people always comment on how wonderful they are.

I have written about finding the right teacup and saucer in the past, and often it is me finding the right cup and saucer with

a little luck and intuition finding these cups, is a true passion for me.

I do take great delight in finding tea cups and saucers for others too. Loving them as I do I know what shapes

and sizes, makes and brands I am drawn to but I don’t just love looking for myself. I love finding the right cup for

the right person and I do it  with a few questions and my handy Etsy search engine.  I love the challenge of finding

just the right home for the right tea vessel. The point is I know how to buy teacups and saucers, but I want you to be

able to find and buy them as well. 

First things first. Look for tea cups, Etsy, Pinterest, Ebay wherever you find them online. I say do this first as it gives

you an idea of what is out there. When you are looking at teacups I say buy what calls to you. It doesn’t have to be

antique, expensive or perfect. It does however have to be something you are going to like and use.  If you want to collect

teacups and saucers for their value then you need another book or source because for me it is all about buying ones you

are going to use. Next if you notice you are drawn to a type of tea cup shape, handle, pattern or color, make note of it, take down the names (most have names like Royal Albert, Adderly, Aynsley, Grafton, Queen Anne, Micasa, Royal Doulton,

Paragon, Royal Stafford,Royal Vale,  Windsor and if you are very very lucky Shelley) I am a very big fan of the shape of Royal

Albert Teacups. They have a stout bottom, delicate looking handle, flared and slightly fluted rim. I cannot help it I swear they

call to me in my sleep. I also really like a corset style shaped cup and saucer, I have some of these and they are Royal Albert cups.

They have a taller look to them with a slim bottom of the cup that flares up and opens at the top, giving the cup a look like it has

been wearing a corset. The other style i really like is the flared bowl, a large cup that is usually painted inside with a lovely floral

pattern and the outsides of the cup is usually one color with a slight pattern.

I am often drawn too Royal Stafford, or Grafton, or Paragon. The name doesn’t matter as much as how you like the look

and feel of the cup you choose. Other than looking for obvious chips and cracks for wear and tear of your potential purchase

it is important to look at the bottom of the cup and the saucer for their stamps, often in thrift stores and sometimes in shops the

pair has been put together as a mismatch. I have a few like that and love them but for some people this is a deal breaker. 

How do you tell if a teacup is really old? Hold it to the light, if you can see through it it is bone china, if you can not it is most likely

not that old or is made of ceramic. Take a look at the handles of the cups as well, they all have names but what is important is how

you think they feel in your hand. I have one cup I loved because of the little flowers on it but every time I used it I was not happy

because I could not slip my fingers through the handle. So in the end after a few disappointing teas with it, I gave it to someone

else who admired it and promised to use it. While you are looking online at types of cups you are drawn too, and you are noting

the names, it is often a good idea to write the price you see them for as well. That way when you are out shopping at thrift stores

or antique shops you will know if you are paying too much or if you are getting a really great deal.Bottom line teacups and saucers are worth only what people will pay for them. A deciding factor for me is often if a cup is more than

I wanted to pay I think about how much I saw it online for and then I factor in the shipping and often if I really want it I will pay a few

more dollars for it. Sometimes I just walk away. I usually have remorse for that but then the hunt is on to find it for less. For my Beltane

post morning tea ritual I did spend more on this cup than I have on any in the past, this one was almost $100. But that mauve color I

could not pass up! 

I am always happy to chat about cups and to answer any questions or look at something you found online if you are wondering if it is a

good price or not. I hope you will reach out and have fun while you are rescuing your teacups and saucers this year.